DISCLAIMER: In the beginning there was fiction, and the creators of fiction saw their fans and knew that their creation was good, to ensure that their fans were eternally loyal the creators demanded that no fan-inspired stories were created, but the fans could not help themselves and thus was born: FANFICTION!

A/N: So, it's a little fluffy and OOC and generally more of a romantic movie plotline than what I usually come up with (I think) but I hope you enjoy it!! Next up Naruto . . . oh dear, I hope I do well!

Yamanaka Ino – September 23rd

If everything is practically perfect in every way on Ino's birthday, then she considers it a year of planning well spent.

If it's not . . . well, someone will feel her wrath.

Fortunately for Konoha, it's usually pretty perfect – the village doesn't talk about the one time it wasn't.

The cake is ordered in from Kirigakure's top-notch patisserie,

The decorations are handcrafted by the flower country's famous art galleries,

The guests are only the most important and exciting people around – and forhead girl,

And finally, Ino's birthday dress is designed and made by each new season's up-and-coming designer.

Hence, everything is practically perfect.

But Ino's always thought there was something missing.

Sure, her parties, presents and guests never fail to please her,

And it may be practically perfect but there's still something missing: she's never 100 percent happy – always just a few percent off.

But why?

She gets everything she wants and more, so what exactly is the problem?

Perhaps she'll never know.

Ino's parties are always filled with "the beautiful people" and Chouji always feels out of place, but this year he's determined to become one of them – if only for one night.

Unfortunately he's decided to do it in the most drastically dangerous manner.

Dangerous missions Akimichi food pills, and Akimichi food pills instant slimming.

So a week before Ino's party, Chouji requests a dangerous mission.

Ino isn't happy, but he promises her he won't miss her party.

She believes him – just.

One week, one dangerous mission and one quick spell in Konoha hospital later and Chouji is the perfect size to fit into his western-style suit (bought in accordance with the invitation's dress-code). He buttons himself into it, attempts to do something with his hair – and manages, just barely – finally grabbing Ino's gift and heading out the door.

Ino is having the time of her life – she thinks.

This years dress is a tight-fitting, low-necked and short-skirted concoction and she's short neither on presents or on offers to dance.

But that weird feeling of missing something is still there.

A new song starts and Ino abandons her current partner in favour of talking to Forehead-girl who's looking equally stunning in an emerald green dress of similar proportions to her own.

"Yo, Sakura!" she calls and the other girl waves back at her from the bar.

"Having fun?" she asks, and Ino grunts non-comittally.

"Then you've obviously not had enough to drink" Sakura replies and signals for two shot-glasses and a bottle of vodka. Ino wrinkles her nose, downing one but refusing to drink the other.

As the pair turn towards the door, a handsome young man walks in.

His suit is expensive, his hair needs work and Ino is sure she has never seen him before in her life.

"Who is that?" she demands of her friend and Sakura shrugs

"Well, you should know, you invited him"

"Well then I guess I'd better get to know him then hadn't I?" Ino moves off towards the stranger and Sakura giggles, recognising him.

"Good luck" she mutters to herself before downing another shot and sauntering off to find another playmate.

Chouji feels lost amongst the lights and the noise of Ino's chosen party venue, but he soon spots the hostess herself making a beeline for him and sighs in relief.

Before he can even say hello however, Ino has gestured at him to join her on the dancefloor, and no matter how much he wishes he could he is unable to say no

Halfway through the dance, Shikamaru catches his eye and winks lazily, while Lee next to him gives him a huge thumbs-up.

Ino is stunned.

This stranger – who she hasn't let out of her sight all night – is exactly what her parties have been missing.

Or would be if her parties were missing anything.

Which they weren't.

Obviously.

Ino has barely left his side all night and Chouji is ecstatic.

This party might be practically perfect in every way, but it's getting late now and he needs to be home.

He says his goodbyes and then moves to leave the party, but Ino catches him and gestures him outside first.

"so you've been just what this party needed" Ino starts as they get exit the club. "And I want you to come again next year, but how do I get the invitation to you?"

"Just give it to Shikamaru" Chouji tells her, voice hoarse from shouting over the music in the club, and smiles.

Ino smiles back, flirting, "Don't want me to know your address huh? Well alright but you're missing out . . ."

Chouji laughs happily "Good night Ino-chan"

"G'night stranger" she says

Chouji bends forward to kiss her on the cheek, but just at the last moment Ino turns her head and catches him full on the mouth.

The kiss is dry, but romantic and passionate, and they part from each other slightly surprised but smiling widely.

"I forgot to give you this earlier" he says, huskily

The stranger hands Ino a pretty box from one of her favourite jewellery shops and closes her hands around it tightly, before shuffling off with a light smile on his lips and a dazed look upon his face.

Ino exhales heavily.

She opens the box to discover a purple ribbon, delicately embroidered with butterflies, deer and wild boar. At each end are amethyst clasps and Ino deduces the ribbon can be worn as necklace, bracelet, belt or any other way she may care to display it.

"Boar-Ino. Deer – Shikamaru. Butterfly – Chouji" she whispers to herself happily, I wonder how he knew about that?

The penny still hasn't dropped.

The next day Ino is practically glowing and Chouji is pleased to see his gift wound around her wrist.

Unfortunately Ino is still none-the-wiser about Chouji's "disguise" and she berates him for missing her party when he promised he wouldn't

As Ino walks ahead of him, still complaining about broken promises, Sakura leans in to whisper something to Chouji.

"Well, no matter how thick Ino may be, I reckon you brush up real good" she says and winks.

Chouji smiles happily. He knows he was there, and that's all that matters.

OWARI!

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